Originally Posted by
Doug64
+1
Place a rubber band around the rear portion of your brake pad; it will hang loosely with only one thickness between the pad and the rim. Adjust the pads to the rim, and tighten. This will give you about the right amount of toe-in. Wipe your rims with denatured alcohol, and clean your brake pads with sandpaper or a flat file. If that does not stop your squeal, it will at least help you to stop better.
+2 Also a really great idea with the rubber band. I might have to try that sometime. I can generally get it pretty well without but having a little extra guide when I am tired or just not feeling up to it could be hand.
If you are squealing because of a long down hill and being really grabby on the brakes maybe try using your front brake more and also just use less brake. Build up your confidence and you will be much better. Also having a good set of brakes you trust is good. I was recently riding my vintage road machine with old school single pivot brakes (new pads though) on our shops weekly hill ride and there were some sketchy downhills that I was grabbing my brakes for dear life because on potholed city streets on skinny tires and untrue wheels with only single pivot brakes to stop you it is scary. The wheels aren't true because they are so high tensioned they are as good as they can get at this point so I am just going to build up a new wheel set with the old 7400 hubs and new spokes and rims.